Pages

Friday, 7 February 2014

A Letter From A Chinki

Dear People Of Mainland

Let's have a heart to heart talk. Honestly and sincerely unless you want to continue living in a vicious environment where each act of aggression provokes retaliation. This is not going to let anyone exist peacefully let alone co-exist amicably.

So what is it about us that intimidates you? What is it that puts the fear of such magnitude that it compels you to take an offensive? Is it merely our 'different looks' or our liberal upbringing and culture that benumbs you with shock that there could be a possibility of a society where boys and girls are treated equally? That it challenges your sole chauvinistic prerogative? Or our 'looks' remind you of those ruthless raiders across the mountains ages ago and whose fear is ingrained in you?

We are a people who have always been gentle and content, for our land and forests had given us enough. Down the ages we have never really had to till the land like most of you have had to struggle with the impregnable soil and harsh climate. Is this frustration and fear so deep rooted in you that it brings out the aggressor to see a 'threat' where there is none? Of an 'outsider' appearing to take your share. No, seriously I am trying to understand the cause of your vitriolic attacks on us because there has to be solution.

It is human instinct to be wary of strangers. Granted. But does it justify your pathetically juvenile prank of tying the leash around a girl's boot? So you got the kicks watching those helpless girls screaming their guts out with terror while you guffawed on the sides? Have you tried the same stunt on yourself ? How many Nidos have you ridiculed, taunted and then beaten them into submission or worse still, death? How many Reingamphys are yet to be molested, raped and killed before you understand that they are all humans just like the your mas and behens? But is there any point in recalling these horrendous incidents? I guess not, for you don't leave alone a Nirbhaya or the Dutch tourist and the countless others who forever live in the dark constricting shadows of your lust.

Let me tell you why the Reingamphys and Nidos come out of their once content regions. It is for the very same reason that your ancestors pitched their tent here in Delhi many years ago. For a better livelihood. The Nidos. Reingamphys and the women like those, to whose boots you tied that damn leash with a dog at the end of it, have stepped out because there are no more opportunities and growth in their regions. Because they also aspire for and deserve a chance to a better life. Because there are not many decent educational and professional education institutes that can nurture their dreams. And also there are not many industries and employment opportunities that can provide for a decent life.

Is it our fault that the Center decided to have the best of everything in the Mainland? The beleaguered people of this region are caught between a militancy gone awry, formidable military and corrupt politicians. Decades of insurgency that took its roots from the Center's apathy to the region's issues which are peculiar and bear no resemblance to those of the mainland, have left the people disillusioned.

Do you know what AFSPA is? Have you ever lived in an atmosphere of fear and scrutiny 24x7 for the last 56 years? Do you know what it means to pass through manned barricades day in and day out to reach your own home? How could a mother sleep fitfully at night after a hard day's work knowing anyone can barge into her home to take her son or daughter away for "questioning"? Many times never to return. Do you know what it takes to breathe the air of this draconian, out-dated law that the British brought up to squash the Quit India Movement? It has no place in a democracy.

And I am not blaming the Armed Forces. How can I, having seen the other side of the fence too? They did not bring the AFSPA into existence. They follow orders that come from the top. Or else India would have been another Pakistan.They are the favourite punching bags or heroes whenever there is a natural or an internal crisis. But the stories of rape, violation of modesty, assault and plain simple gunning down abounds. Despite all this, we do send our boys and men into the Forces just like you do to guard the nation. But has the nation or it's people stood by us? They don't even know us. Majority of them still believes we live in forests and bamboo houses with wild beast for company, if not in China and Burma. Not that we mind living in these eco-friendly abodes. It is just that the inference drawn thereafter is laced with contempt and derision.

Tossed between all this, is the youth of our region. Their mothers have fought many bitter battles relentlessly to salvage the next generation from being misguided and spiraling into the abyss of despair. Have you heard of the Meira Paibee or the Naga Mother's Association or Manipur Women Gun Survivor Network? You must listen to their heart rending stories. It is a mother's anguish and fear forming a gritty resolution to take the shaping of the future in her hands. Can you feel this painful desperation? It is the same as your mother's when she sees you being dragged away (maybe she never saw this happening to you), going wayward or not given a deserving chance and being wasted. It is the hope of a better future that drives these young men and women away from their homes.

And it is these young men and women, sons and daughters whose dreams you trample upon and whose body you violate. Only because they are different from you.

Can you, once and for all understand and get it in you that Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim are a part of India? Delhi belongs to all. We have as much right to it as you do. So stop this singling out and violence once and for all.

20 comments:

Ilakshee, I am saddened to read this post. Saddened that you needed to remind the 'mainland' of tenets of humanity, which seems to be at a discount universally. Many things come to my mind, like how a certain section of populace exceeding 400 millions is being treated as a 'minority' just to grab their votes, that cast a dark shadow on the future of this nation. I wish all the best to all of you, my friend.

Just shared this post...really from the heart to touch every reader. India-in-the-making is what had started since British left India. It sadly continues to this day. National integration is far from complete which is very sad..:(

Not human instinct but animal instinct to fear and attack what is strange. We may call ourselves civilized but even the veneer of 'sapiens' that is supposed to separate us from the animals is wafer-thin.

Umashankar, It is yet another manifestation of persecution of the 'different'. As a nation, as a people we have stagnated ourselves by being unable to accept differences and so have stopped enriching ourselves. That is sad.

You are right Suresh! But sometimes, no make that most times now, I feel we insult the animals by attributing our heinous acts to them. their attacks are spurred by survival instincts while ours are incited by lust and evil.

Puru, thank you for stopping by and I really appreciate your leaving a comment here. Couldn't agree with you more. Our basic problem as Indians is we have forgotten certain words like 'tolerance' 'acceptance' and 'assimilation'. There is always an urge to assert the supremacy of a region or a culture.

All you wrote is true... And there is nothing wrong in being from NE or being a Bihari.... Its all about not not having acceptance.Acceptance to grow and let others grow/change/modify .... All Indians have one trait in common- they are KOOPMANDOOK(The proverbial frog in the well)cut off from the rest of the world in their cocoon they like to think their home/neighborhood/city is all and the Supreme. Even UP has its own discriminationsas for eastern UPites(Purabiye), Hilly UPites now Uttarakhand (Pahadis)and all that cities closer to delhi are blue blooded and rest UP is also Bad ! .... list is endless .. so don't lose heart... life is tough and hard for all those who are level headed and go for a just cause ... Delhi id just another over-populated, over-polluted and over -corrupt city of India.sigh!